History of Rennes

To visit Rennes is to step back in time, soaking up the city’s past through its monuments, characters and key moments, from the Parlement court and the Great Fire of 1720 to the Odorico mosaics, half-timbered houses and bloody alleyways that were once serial killer Hélène Jegado’s haunts. A fresh take on Brittany and its heritage, a place where stories and legends are recounted, memories that will stick in your mind for years to come…

13 results

Place des Lices square

Published on March 27, 2020

Its name evokes images of knights competing in tournaments, but we love coming here every weekend. The Place des Lices is one of the busiest...

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Pont aux Foulons street

Published on March 26, 2020

La rue Pont aux Foulons est une toute petite ruelle pavée du centre ancien de Rennes. Son nom ne vous dit peut-être rien, il évoque pourtant...

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Saint-Pierre cathedral

Published on March 26, 2020

The Saint-Pierre cathedral in Rennes is a unique example of a Roman basilica in Brittany. It is an absolutely unmissable monument to see dur...

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Drinker’s Alley

Published on September 15, 2019

Better known as the Rue de la Soif which roughly translates as "Drinker's Alley", Rue Saint-Michel in Rennes is one of the city's legendary...

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Rennes Opera House

Published on July 22, 2019

The Rennes Opera House is unusual for several reasons: its rounded façade fits the shape of the town hall opposite, its double staircase cau...

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Portes mordelaises gates and fortifications

Published on April 17, 2018

The medieval fortifications of Rennes will soon be redeveloped into a promenade. This is one piece of heritage you must see during a guided...

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The Saint-Georges Swimming-pool

Published on January 25, 2018

An iconic monument considered emblematic of Rennes and one of France's greatest Art Déco gems, the Saint-Georges swimming-pool was listed as...

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The Parliament of Brittany

Published on May 18, 2017

Major architectural work of the seventeenth century, the Parliament of Brittany is now one of the few places in France where justice and tou...

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Half-timbered houses

Published on April 28, 2017

From the late Middle Ages to the end of the Ancien Régime, a multitude of half-timbered houses were built in Brittany, and in particular in...

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Heritage

Published on January 2, 2017

For the curious wanderer, a discrete Rennes reveals an unprecedented diversity of heritage. Few cities contain as many notable buildings fro...

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Retracing the history of odorico mosaics

Published on October 21, 2016

A unique part of Rennes's heritage, mosaic art has left its mark not only on the Breton capital, but on the entire west of France. It all st...

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The story of a river

Published on April 22, 2016

The Vilaine is a pretty river that crosses Rennes and there is nothing pejorative about its name (which means ugly in French). It dates back...

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Séverine Even

Published on December 24, 2015

From its most significant history to the tiniest corners of the map, Séverine Even knows Rennes inside out. Of course she does, she was born...

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